Diana Orellana at Community Center groundbreaking
When Diana left Jubilee 20 years after she had first walked through its doors, she felt ready to take on the world. Raised by a single father who worked overtime to provide for his children, Diana relied on Jubilee to learn what it meant to be a woman. "They say it takes a village, and Jubilee was my village."
Walking around Jubilee’s sprawling campus, Diana is stunned. In the mid-2000’s when Diana left Jubilee, programming was housed in two small Habitat for Humanity houses. Today, they have been replaced by a new, sun-filled community center that houses four classrooms, a computer lab, a library, a commercial kitchen, and several offices. One original Habitat for Humanity house still stands and hosts Jubilee’s Teen Program. “Jubilee was our safe place. We would ask each other, ‘are you going to las casitas, the little houses’ today?”
Unshakeably resilient, Diana recounts the hardships she faced growing up but is quick to point out her blessings, too. “We might have not had a Christmas tree, but we had presents from Jubilee. I may not have had a mother, but Jubilee was there for me.”
Diana admits that growing up without a mother was one of the greatest difficulties she would face in her lifetime. “A little girl needs their mother,” Diana tearfully says. “It can be scary and embarrassing to not know what is happening [to your body]. Mrs. Walker taught me what it meant to be a woman, but every woman I met at Jubilee was important to my growing up.”
Early adult education class at Jubilee
Jubilee is where Diana learned how to carry herself with confidence. The positivity and encouragement she received from her Jubilee Family made her believe her dreams were possible. As a young adult, she attended resume classes, mock interviews, and "Dress for Success" workshops where she learned the importance of hard work and professionalism.
When she applied for her first job out of high school, she put all of those hard-earned skills to the test. "I walked into Ross in a suit and with a resume," Diana laughs. She got the job. Eventually, a regular customer noticed Diana’s professionalism and commendable faultless service. The woman invited Diana for an interview at the local bank and extended a job offer for an entry-level position. After working her way up, Diana is now a Branch Manager!
Now Diana wants to give back to her community, and to the place that once meant everything to her. "One thing that people get wrong is that no one from my neighborhood will be [anything]-- that's not true. Change is possible, and it's already happening."